Portable electric lamp



Nov. 8, 1927. l 1,648,709

W. R. WINSELL PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMP Filed 061;. 23. 1925 llllllll u INVENTOR WHW/w@ ATTo'RNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCE.

WILLIAM R. WINSELL, F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMP.

Application filed October-23, 1925. Serial No. 64,329.

My invention relates to portable electric lamps and has for its principal object to provide a lamp so constructed that it may be used as a yflash or spot light for directing a concentrated beam of light, or as a lamp whereby the light is dili'used in all directions for illuminating purposes.

Another object of the invention-is to provide means for supporting the lamp in a convenient manner upon any object adjacent the point of desired lllumination.

In accomplishing these objects I have provided improved details of structure, the preerred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lamp constructed in accordance with my invention and attached to the folded-back hood of an automobile to illuminate the engine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the lamp, partof the reflector being broken away to better illustrate its construction.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the lamp casing, the battery cells and bulb being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the various parts of the lamp shown in spaced relation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings by numerals of reference:

1 designates the casing of the lamp, preferably constructed of conductive material `and comprising a tubular member.. 2 closed l at its lower end 3 by a cap 4, having an integral flange 5 for receivmg the end of the tubular member and preferably soldered to sai member as at 6. The tubular member has an open top 7 through which ordinary flash light dry cells 8 and 9 may be inserted but which is normally closed by a cap or cover 10. l

The cover 10 comprises a slightly coneshaped top 11, having a downwardly extending peripheral flange 12 internally screwthreaded as at 13 to engage external threads 14 on the upper end of the tubular member of the" casing.

The cap 10 carries an ordinary flash light bulb 15, the base of which is threaded into an internally threaded collar 16 on the under side of the cap and in vertical alignment with the positive terminal 17 of the top cell 9 so that when the cap is screwed into place, the contact 18 on the bulb will contact with the terminal 17 of the dry cell.

To protect the bulb against accidental breakage I have provided the cap with a guard cage comprising inverted U-shaped wires 19 and 19', crossed over the top of the bulb with their ends 20 extended through apertures 21 in the cap and peened over on the under side. of the cap as at 22 and soldered to the cap as at 23, so that the ends of the wires are firmly fixed to the cap to hold the guard wires in their proper position with relation to the bulb.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the bulb projects above the cup and that the light rays may diffuse in all d1- rections to provide eflicient illumination for lighting a considerable space about the lamp.v

In order that the lamp may be used as a spot light or flash light I have provided a concave reflector 24 which may be adjusted to collect laterally directed light rays and reflect them forwardly in a concentrated beam. f

The reflector consists of a sleeve 25 slidable on the tubular member 2 and having a. spreading flange 26 formed on the end of the sleeve and provided on its outer face with a reflecting surface 27. The inner end of the sleeve snugly fits the member 2 and the outer end is of a diameter to fit the cap 10 so that a shoulder 28 is formed midway of the sleeve to engage the cap when the sleeve is in its functional position and hold the sleeve to the casing. Movement of the sleeve in the opposite direction is limited by the bottom cap so that when the sleeve is applied to the 9o tubular member and the cover cap 10 is screwed into place, the sleeve is retained from sliding olf the casing. Thus when the sleeve is moved to its outer position as shown by dott-ed lines in Fig. 3, the reflector flange 95 projects labout the top of the cap and is in position to reflect the light rays from the bulb in a concentrated beam, but when the sleeve is moved back onto the body 2 the light rays from the bulb are free to diffuse in all directions.

To support the lamp when it is to be used for illumination, the end cap 4 is provided with a cl1p 29, comprising a strip of spring metal, the opposite ends of which are coiled inwardly to form convolute gripping jaws 30 and 31. The-flat intermediate portion-32 of the strip is secured to the cap 4 by a rivet 33. When the lamp is to be applied to an object, the clip is pushed astride the object, the con- 11 increased gripping pressure is applied to. thesides of the object to secure a firm hold and support for the lamp. Attention is also called to the fact that when the clip is 'applied over a larger object, the convolutes simply wind a greater degree.

To retain the battery cells in place, a compressible, cylindrical ring 34, preferably of rubber, is placed between the top cell and the topcap concentrically of the battery terminal and bulb contact. rllhe ring loosely encircles the contacts and is of such length as to place tension upon the battery cells when vthe cap is screwed into place.\ When the lamp is not in operation, a slight space is maintained betweena the battery terminal and the contact on the bulb by slightly unscrewing the cap. When the lamp is to be lighted, the contact between the bulb and 4the battery is made by screwing the cap down further upon the casing, compressing the rubber ring and closing-the contact to the lamp.

In assembling the lamp, the battery cells are inserted in the casing, the zinc bottom i' of the lower cell resting upon the rivet 33 to make an electric connection between the zinc or negative terminal of the battery and the casing of the lamp, and the reflector sleeve is slid into place over the casing. The rubber ring is then placed upon the top battery concentrically of the positive terminal and the top cap carrying the bulb is screwed into place upon-the casing, a dis# tance to compress the rubber ring but not enough to make electric contact between the bulb and the battery. The'lamp is then ready for use. v

4Should the lamp be used as a flash light, the reflector sleeve 'is slid upwardly until the shoulder 28 strikes the top cap. The reflector flange is then in position to receive the light rays from the bulb and reflect them in a concentrated beam. To light the bulb, thel top cap is screwed down, compressing the rubber ring until further movement of the cap is stopped by the base of the bulb coming into contact with the positive terminal of the battery. Current then flows from the positive ofthe battery to the contact at the base of the bulb through the lamp fila,- ment to the bulb base which is screwed into the cap then through the casing to the rivet 33, which contacts with the negative of the lower cell, which completes the circuit. v Attention is called to the fact that the concentration ofthe light beampmay be regulated by moving the sleeve carrying the reflector fiange relative to the bulb to get the desired focus.

Should the device be used as a lamp, the reflector flange is slid backwardly on the l 4 integree casing away from the bulb to permit the light rays to diuse in all directions, as shown by the lower dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The device constructed as described lis particularly adapted for the use of the mo! torists, as a. trouble lamp, as it may be conveniently attached to some part of the car adjacent the part .on which he is working, giving ample light to make the required reairs.

Thus it will be seen that the device is particularly adapted to its purpose as a lamp -and that it may readily be adapted or 'use as a flash or spot light by adjustment of the reflector ange.

What ll claim and desire to secure by ll'aet'l ters-Patent is:

1-. A lamp comprising a cylindrical casa.

ing, a cap on one end of the casing having a conical, closed end provided with areect ing surface and a lamp socket concentric with said closedend, a lamp bulb in the socket and a sleeve slidably mounted on the cas ing having a flared outer end movable into concentric overlapping relation with the conical reflector for the purpose set forth, said sleeve having means thereon engaging said cap to limit the movement thereof.

2. In a deviceo the character described, a tubular casing, an end cap having a lamp socket therein, -a reflector member telescoped on said tubular casing and slidablethereon over'said cap, and an end cap on the op.

posite end of said' casing, said reector member having means thereon engaging said end caps to limit the movement thereof in opposite directions.

3. In a device of the character described, a tubular casing, an end cap having a lamp socket therein, a reector member telescoped on said'tubular casing and slidable thereon beyond said cap, and an end capK on the op,

posite end of said casing, said end cap having a pair of spring clips thereon, said reflector member having means thereon engaging said end .caps to limit the movement thereof in opposite directions.y

4. In a device of the character described, a tubular casing, an end cap having a. lamp socket therein, a reector member telescoped on said tubular casing and slidable thereon over and beyond said cap, and an end cap on the opposite end of said casing, said en d cap havin a air of coiled spring clips thereon, said re ector member having means thereon engaging said end caps to limit the movement thereof in opposite'directions.

5. In a device of the character described,

a tubular casing, an end cap having a lamp socket. therein, a reflector member telescoped on said tubular casing and slidablev thereon, and an end cap on thef opposite end of said casing, said reflector member having a flaring reiector portion at one end thereof and an oset between the ends thereof denlng a Lie-18309 stop shoulder engaging said first end cap to limlt the movement thereof in one direction, 6. In a device of the character described,

-a tubular casing, an end cap having a lamp socket therein, a reflector member telescoped on said tubular casing and slida-ble thereon and an end ca on the op oste end of sai casing, said re ector mem r having a flaring reeetor portion at one end thereof, and

of said member in the an osetbetweenthe ends thereof defining a stop shoulder engagin said first end cap to limit the movement t ereof in one direction and engaging said other end cap with the other end thereof to limit the movement In testimony whereof oiposite direction.

aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM R. WINSELL. I 

